Dispensing device



Feb, 23', 1943. LMANLY *l 2,312,180

` DISPENSING DEVICE l 'Filed Jam'zo; 1942 Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE DisPENslNG DEVICE Lorraine L. Manly, Fort Sam Houston, Tex. Application January 20, 1942, Serial No. 427,511

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing device, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind with means whereby powdered or granulated substances in predetermined bulk may be poured from cans, jars or other containers.

' It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be readily applied to a container and wherein the device is so constructed as to afford maintenance of the container, or more particularly the contents thereof, in a highly sanitary condition, or especially when the device is used in connection with tooth powder cans, or sugar containers commonly used in restaurants.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved dispensing device whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through a dispensing device constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofmy invention, and in applied position, the associated container being shown in fragment;

Figure 2 is also a sectional view taken through the device and the adjacent portion of an associated container, the assembly being inverted and showing certain of the parts in a second position; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the cap of the device unapplied. y

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, C

-denotes an end portion of a conventional container such as used for holding sugar, tooth powder, or other ccmminuted materials and in con- --nection with the open end thereof my improved device is adapted to be employed.

My improved device as herein embodied comprises a base member or plate I of required conguration and dimensions and which has its marginal portion defined yby a surrounding ange 2 whereby the device may be readily slipped upon kthe open end portion of the container C. The central portion of the base member or plate I"-is formedto provide an outstanding and relatively large hollow casing 3 herein disclosed as substantially semi-spherical lin form with the larger or flat face 4 open. The central part of the casing 3 is provided with an opening 5 dened by an outstanding sleeve 6. of desired length.

Snugly and slidably disposed through the sleeve 6 is a tubular member 'I having its inner end 8 closed, and With'said'inner closed end provided with a surrounding outstanding bead 9 which casing 3 surrounding the opening 5 to limit the extent of outward movement of the member 'I. The outer end portion of the tubular member 1 is radially enlarged, as at I0, to provide an inwardly facing shoulder I I for contact with the outer end of the sleeve Ei whereby is limited the extent of inward sliding movement of the tubular mem-ber 1. This tubular member 1 is of such length as to have its inserted or closed end 8 closely adjacent to the open face 4 of the casing when the member 'I is at the limit of its inward movement, but with the portion of the member 'I within the casing 3 being entirely housed within the casing.

The inserted end portion of the member 'I is provided in its wall with the relatively large and diametrically opposed openings I2 each of which being rectangular in form, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular style of opening. Each of these openings I2 also preferably extends from the inserted closed end 8 of the sleeve to a point immediately adjacent to the opening 5 when the member 1 is at the limit of its -inward movement, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

snugly and slidably mounted upon the sleeve 6 is a cap member I4, said cap I4 fitting upon the sleeve 6 lsuiiiciently loose to permit free movement of the cap It along the sleeve 6 without binding. The enlarged portion I0 of the member 1, however, isI of a major diameter suiciently greater than that of the sleeve 6 to bind yagainst the inner or closed end portion of the cap I4 sufficiently tight to cause the cap I 4 and the member 'I to move in unison.

The lower or open end of the cap I4 is defined by an outstanding surrounding skirt I5 substantially semi-spherical in form and which, when the member I is at the limit of its inward movement, has close engagement over the casing 3. As is illustrated in Figure 1, the skirt I5 when the member 'I is at the limit of its inward movement substantially entirely covers the casing 3. The enlargement I0 of the member 'I is preferably produced by properly expanding the member 'I after the same has been initially inserted through the sleeve 6.

The container C with my improved device thereon is normally in an upright position. When it is desired to dispense the'contents of the container C, said container C with the applied device is inverted, whereupon the material within the container C will flow thro-ugh the openings I2 Vinto the member I. It is believed to be obvious that normally the member 'I is at the limit of its inwardmovement. As the material ows through the openings I2 it will properly ll the member 1 upon the closed head I Ii of the cap member and which head at that time serves as a closure for the outer end of the member 1. Outbelieved to be obvious *memben rthe outer 2 ward pull is then imposed upon the cap I4 which will result at the same time in outward movement of the member 1, bringing the bead 9 into Contact with the Wall of the casing 3, thus limiting the outward movement of the member 1. The cap I4 is then pulled down oli from the member 1, and during which operation the cap member I4 serves as a cap to receive the material' serves in the fashion of a funnel to facilitate vthe iiow of material from the container -C through the openings I2 into the member 1, and it is also that the construction vof the dispensing device is such as to allow the desired iiow-of the -material within the containerv C into the device to be gravitational.

From the foregoing description it is thought tofbe obvious that a dispensing-device constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly'well adapted for use lbyreason of the con- -venience and facilitywith which -it may vbe assembled 4and operated.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device Icomprising -a member adapted-to be -disposed over the discharge `opening of a container, said member having-an Vopening, an outstanding sleeve carriedby'the member and surrounding the opening, a tubular member -freely slidable throughthe sleeve, the Vinner end of the tubular member the tubular member Iadjacent to `the closed-end thereof, and-a cap freely slidable on'the tubular memben the outer -end portion of the tubular member having -close frctionalcontact with the -side wall of-the -cap to allow said cap and tubular member to have unitary outward movement,said

tubular -member =being providedwith means for extent of its movement in either -direction, the opening of the tubularmemberwhen limiting the atthe limit of its inward movement being below the 'adjacent -portion of the sleeve.

A `dispensing Adevicev comprising -a ymember adapted to be disposed over the discharge 'opening, an outstanding sleeve carried by lthe Lmember andsurrounding'the openillgra tubularlmember freely slidable Athrough 'the sleeve,-the*inner end of the tubular member -`beingclosed Ea-nd-tl=1e outer end open, lan `inlet --opening in ythe -`sir1.,eewa1-1l of the tubular member adjacent Vto the closed end thereof, a cap freely slidableeen ithe tubular end portion :of the tubular :member havingeclose friction-al lcontact withthe side wall of the capto'allow saidfca-p-and tubular member to have'unitar-y outward movement, said tubular member lbeing provided with means for limiting the extent `of -its Jmovement iin 'either di-rection, the opening -of the tubular .member 'when at the limit of-its^inward movement 4:being below the Aadjacent portion of `the sleevegthe means Vfor limiting the movementlof the tubular ,member comprising ya surrounding-'headat lits closed end for contact with-the member, Landen lbeing closed andthe outver end open, an inlet opening -in 'the/side wall of inwardly facing surrounding shoulder at its outer end portion for contact with the outer end of the sleeve.

3. A dispensing device comprising a member adapted to 'be disposed over the discharge opening of a container, said member having an opening, an outstanding sleeve carried by the memvrber and surrounding the opening, a tubular member ,freely slidable through the sleeve, the inner 'end ofthe tubular member being closed and the outer lend Qpen, an inlet opening in the side wall vof the tubular member adjacent to the closed end thereof,A and a cap freely slidable on the tubular member, the outer end portion of the tubular member having close frictional contact witlhtheside wall of thecapto 'allow `said cap and tubular member to have unitary outward -movement, -said `tubular member being provided with means for limiting the extent of its movement :in either direction, the opening of -the tubular member when at the limit of its inward movement being below the adjacent portion of the sleeve, :the portion of the member having the opening being outwardly disposed to fprovide a "parti-spherical casing.

4. A dispensing device ycomprising a member adapted to -be disposed over the discharge openingof :avcontainerfsaid member having an open- -ing,an outstanding sleeve carried by the member and surrounding the opening, a tubular member freely slidable through 'the sleeve, the inner end of the tubular member being `closed and the 'outer-end open, lan inlet opening in the sidewall ofthe tubular member adjacent to the closed-end thereof, and a cap vfreely vslidable on the tubular member, the outer end portion of the tubular fmember'having close frictional contact with the 'side-vvallof the cap'to-allow-said cap and tubular member -zto have unitary outward movement, said tubular member being providedwith means for limiting the extent o'f its-movement in either direction, the opening of =the Atubular member when at-the1limit of its inward movement being fbe'low the :adjacent :portion of the sleeve, the

portion of the member having the opening being @outwardly'fdisposed to-provide a parti-spherical casing the :inserted end yportion of the tubular member when at the limit lof its inward movevmentbeinglhoused within'said casing.

5. A dispensing device comprising a member adapted to be -disposedfover the discharge opening of a container, sai-dmember having an opening, .an outstanding vsleeve carried by the mem- :ber rand surrounding the opening, ya tubular `member :freely slidable through the sleeve, the AinnerendV of :the tubularmember being closed .and the outer end open, an inlet opening Vin the side wall of the-tubular memberadjacent lto the closedend thereof, and acapifreely slidable on .the tubularimember,itheouterend portion ofithe tubularsmemberfhaving .close Lrictional contact with the-sidecwall1of the .cap .to allow .saidcap and tubular Vmember to'fhave .unitary outward movement, said-'tubularv member being fprovided itwithgm'eans for limiting .the extent lof .its :moi/le 'mentin either dire ction, `Athe .openingpf the; tubulary member .when-.at theilimitloflitss'inward move- L'mentbeing below ,the adjacent poi-tion of the :sleeve,. the sleeve 'being .fof ,a .length isuihcient to `close .thaopening in ,the f side .wall .of .the tubular member whenisaid .tubulanmember is=at ,theslimit .1ofiitstoutwardamovement.

LORRAINE L. '1 

